March marked the transfor- mation of MS Awareness
Week (March 14–20) into a
coordinated effort to raise awareness year-round. The theme
“MS=” gives all people affected
by MS the opportunity to educate others by telling the world
what MS means to them. Go to
facebook.com/nationalMS
society or nationalMSsociety
.org/MSequals.

Teri GarrWorld MS Day, May 25On World MS Day, coordinatedby the Multiple Sclerosis Inter-national Foundation and theNational MS Society, 60-pluscountries have over 200 eventsto address this year’s theme:Employment. People are invitedto sign a petition urging leadersand employers around the worldto protect the rights of peoplewith MS to work. Go toworldMSday.org.

can be viewed any time, night or
day, at www.nationalMSsociety
.org/mslearnonline. Viewers can
also sign up to receive an e-mail
when a new webcast debuts.
Transcripts (PDF format) and
podcasts (MP3 audio format) are
available for most programs.

recognizes that key provisions in
the new law reflect the Society’s
own Health Care Reform Principles and have particular impact
on individuals and families living
with MS:

■ Elimination of lifetime caps
on benefits

■ No discrimination based on
pre-existing conditions
– By 2010, for children
– By 2014, for everyone

■ Elimination of the Medicare
prescription drug coverage
gap, aka the ”donut hole.”
In 2011, for example, there
is a 50% discount on brand-name drugs while in the gap.

Affordable CareAct updateVideo box placed either directly on the page of theadvertisement or on an editorial feature page; exactplacement requirements on page cannot be guaranteed.

There continues to be great uncertainty about the 2010
Affordable Care Act. Last winter
saw five different federal judges
ruling five different ways regarding the constitutionality of
all or some of the provisions.
Most observers forecast that
the matter will be settled by
the Supreme Court sometime
in 2012. Until then, provisions
with start dates in 2010–11
continue to be the law.

While there are many strongly
held opinions regarding the
constitutional issues, the Society

What happens now?
On the state level, MS activists
are involved in structuring the
Health Insurance Exchanges that
are meant to make insurance
more affordable in 2014. To be
informed or involved, become
an MS Activist. Call 1-800-344-
4867 or go to “Government
Affairs & Advocacy” on national
MSsociety.org and click the
bright green “Be an Activist” box.